The brilliant Colchester Zoo will be keeping its doors open until 9.30pm for a Fright Night for those who dare to stay after dark.

There will be special late night attractions to get your hair standing on end, along with great lighting effects around the zoo and after dark feedings.

Access to the park on their Fright Nights is included in the standard admission price, but the special attractions will require a wrist band for £5 per person.

Standard adult tickets cost £22.99, children between three and 15 years cost £15.99, over 60s are £20.99 and disabled guests and their assistants cost £11.50 each. E-tickets are available for 10% cheaper, and 20% after 5pm.

Take the family for a fantastic day out to the Easton Farm Park over this half term for half the normal price.

You and your family are spoilt for choice on activities, whether you enjoy a family train ride, hug a bunny, horse rides, meet their Suffolk Punch horse and other animals, explore the green trail around 35 acres of river and so much more.

You can either sit down and enjoy a meal at the farm park’s Barmy Barn Cafe, or bring your own picnic and relax in the sheltered picnic barn.

Learn all about potions and make your own wands at Kentwell Hall. Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM

Halloweenies: Kentwell’s School of Sorcery, Kentwell Hall

October 21-October 29

Calling all witches and wizards this October half term, get on your broomsticks and fly to the Tudor mansion for a magical experience.

Take your children for a morning or afternoon to make their very own wands, meet magnificent birds of prey, witness The Great Edmundo’s magic show, attend potion class and test your broomstick skills around their own obstacle course.

Kentwell Hall’s moat house building cannot accommodate pushchairs and has limited disability access.

Online booking begins at £7.45 for children up to six years, ages seven to 13 cost £8.45 and everyone else costs £9.95, prices on the day will be slightly more expensive.

Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett, who will be at the Sci-Fi & Action Exhibition 2017 at Moyse's Hall, and David Prowse as Darth Vader with Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Sci-Fi & Action Exhibition 2017, Moysey’s Hall Museum

October 21-November 26

The Hollywood red carpets meets the market town of Bury St Edmunds as visitors get to see real screen-used costumes and props.

Actor Jeremy Bulloch, Star Wars’ most feared bounty hunter, Boba Fett, will be at the exhibition launch on Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22.

Props such as Wolverine’s ‘adamantium’ claws worn by Hugh Jackman in X-Men: The Last Stand and Halle Berry’s Storm costume and much more will be on display throughout the exhibition.

There are also drop-in workshops on October 24 and 27 from 11am, and visitors can meet a storm trooper on October 25 from 11am. The exhibition finishes on Sunday, November 26, and more activities will be confirmed.

Adult tickets cost £5, children cost £3, family tickets are available for £15 and heritage ticket holders can go free.

The Colchester Mercury Theatre will be holding the jurassic Dinosaur World over half term. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

The Long Gallery at Layer Marney Tower hasn’t been slept in since the Tudor times, but now the public have the chance to stay the night. Arriving at 8pm on Thursday, visitors will be taken to their sleeping quarters before enjoying a dinner of burgers and sausages in the nearby courtyard.

Afterwards, you will make your way to the top of the tower where you can listen to stories, play apple bobbing, carve pumpkins and then go for a night walk, sit by a bonfire and toast marshmallows.

Tickets cost £25 per person and only 35 are available.

To book, call: 01206 330784

Experience the tastes of Germany at Oktoberfest at Castle Park, Colchester.

Oktoberfest, Colchester

October 27-October 28

The famous Oktoberfest will be bringing the taste of Germany to Colchester’s Castle park for the first time.

People will be able to enjoy the fantastic tastes of Bavarian food and drink, as well as heaps of traditional entertainment.

It will take place in one of the largest beer tents in Europe and will be joined by some of the best oompah bands that will be sure to get you thigh slapping and foot tapping.

The sessions will take place on Friday evening between 6pm and 11pm, Saturday afternoon between noon and 5pm and in the evening between 6pm and 11pm.